Sean Robinson might start for Purdue vs. Illinois

John Supinie

Wednesday

Oct 27, 2010 at 12:01 AMOct 27, 2010 at 12:44 AM

When Illinois (4-3 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten) hosts Purdue (4-3, 2-1) in a Big Ten Conference football game Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN2), Sean Robinson is expected to take plenty of snaps and might earn his first start for Purdue.

As a Rochester Junior High School student, Sean Robinson had a family friend paint the Chief Illiniwek logo on his bedroom wall.

You couldn't miss it, said his father, Dave - it was 8 feet tall.

"It basically went from the floor to the ceiling,'' Dave Robinson said.

But when Illinois (4-3 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten) hosts Purdue (4-3, 2-1) in a Big Ten Conference football game Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN2), Robinson is expected to take plenty of snaps and might earn his first start for Purdue. A Boilermakers recruiting priority who turned down 24 other BCS scholarship offers, including a late one from Illinois, Robinson is a freshman getting early playing time because of injury.

"Excitement, pride and fear,'' said Dave Robinson. "Sean's a level-headed kid. He always had an ability to cope and deal with big moments.''

Even if Rob Henry can start his fourth straight game at quarterback for the Boilermakers or just play after cutting the index finger on his throwing hand last week against Ohio State and losing his fingernail, Robinson will likely earn playing time for the third straight game after logging 23 snaps in the first two games of his career.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Robinson and the rest of the Purdue quarterbacks were off limits to the media this week.

Robinson's ability to handle the job was noticed early by plenty of college coaches while making life easier for Rochester coach Derek Leonard.

"I'm not comparing him to Tim Tebow, but that style is a good comparison,'' said Leonard. "He'll be a better thrower someday. He's a power runner, and he's an awesome human being. Sean is going to be a great leader.''

Illinois coach Ron Zook - the first recruiter to make contact - drove to Rochester on a snowy morning even though school was called off because of bad road conditions on the first day coaches could meet with junior prospects. When Robinson came home, he told his parents what Zook said: "You will be able to pick where you want to play. Illinois is sincerely interested in you.''

Said Dave Robinson: "We never imagined it would evolve into this.''

The competition didn't wait. Purdue, among others, offered scholarships almost immediately. Nebraska, Northwestern, Iowa, Wisconsin, Stanford and Vanderbilt were also aggressive, Dave Robinson said. Illinois didn't make an early offer, in part because former offensive coordinator Mike Schultz had just been hired and was still getting his feet on the ground, the Robinsons were told.

"I know coach Zook has some regrets about that somewhat,'' said Illini defensive coordinator Vic Koenning, who recruits the Springfield area.

“They said to be patient,” Dave Robinson said. “Purdue said they looked at 260 quarterbacks, and Sean was their guy. There was never any talk about another position.”

Illinois took two quarterbacks in the class, Miles Osei of Mount Prospect and Chandler Whitmer from Downers Grove South.

"I had (Robinson) in my office on more than one occasion,'' Zook said. "I think he looked at the quarterback situation and where his best opportunities were to play quarterback.''

Purdue began the season with Robert Marve, a transfer from Miami, starting at quarterback, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the fourth game. Projected backup Caleb TerBush, of Metamora, had already been ruled academically ineligible. Thus, Henry, a redshirt freshman who attended Illini camps during high school, took over the starting role before the injury at Ohio State.

Injuries already ended the season for Purdue's top running back (Ralph Bolden) and top receiver (Keith Smith). Dan Dierking, the most productive running back with 353 yards, missed last week because of a neck injury, but the Wheaton Warrenville South product may return against Illinois.

Robinson threw for 2,368 yards and 31 touchdowns his last season at Rochester, with only four interceptions. He also ran for 1,223 yards and 18 touchdowns, but he needed another yard against Metamora. With the Rockets trailing Metamora 41-40 with 3.8 seconds left in a Class 4A state playoff semifinal game, Leonard called for a two-point conversion and going for the win.

Robinson came up 1 yard short on a quarterback draw. The heartbreaking loss still haunts Leonard.

"He was my comforter,'' Leonard said. "I was so devastated.''

Leonard will be there with his coaching staff and about 20 players after Rochester's playoff game Friday. Dave Robinson will get there in the RV bought to take his family to all Purdue home and road games.

And Sean Robinson will finally make it to the Memorial Stadium turf - even if it took another year and another route.

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com.

A look at Purdue

Record: 4-3 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten.

So far: Lost to Notre Dame 23-12, defeated Western Illinois 31-21, def. Ball State 24-13, lost to Toledo 31-20, def. Northwestern 20-17, def. Minnesota 28-17, lost to Ohio State 49-0.

Coach: Danny Hope, 9-10 in second year at Purdue, 44-32 in seventh year overall.